I want to know from my military brethren if they feel that the military presses upon them republican views.?

Question

I am a moderate democrat that loves his country and miltary service. I support all my military brothers and sisters but find it hard to be a moderate in the military. The military only sees the money it gets from republicans instead of the future of military. Yes I mean the quigmire in Iraq.
No I do not support homosexuals in the military and not all Democrats are liberal pro homosexuals trying to bring down "good old fashioned values".
So how can I talk to extreme right wing brainwashed miltary folk who only see dollars.

Answer 1

The answer to your question is no. I think if political views or actions are pressed upon you by your superiors or commander, they can get in trouble for that.

I entered the military republican, and have seen the light and consider myself democrat. The worst I've personally seen is some guys talking in a break room to each other about what a great leader Bush is, but this was about four years ago when he was still very popular. I haven't heard any such talk recently at all.

In short, I wouldn't worry about it.

Answer 2

You are right in saying the military sees dollars, after all, the Republican party is the party that "generally" is more supportive on financing the military. Under Clinton, who knows how many bases were closed. Sure it started just after the the Gulf War with Bush but escalated with Clinton. The military is stronger under Republican leadership. A lot of soldiers are also from the conservative South. There really aren't many liberal democrats signing up for military service. As you are a moderate, you probably are a minority in the military. The military is pretty much a Republican playground. I also have a friend who feels the same way that you do serving in Korea at the moment.

Answer 3

I was brought up in a Full blown Democratic Home... My father was retired Navy, Served during WWII... He swore by the democrats... I Became Republican shortly after my fathers death... I saw the way that the Democrats squandered as much money as they could from the military... It was and still is total BS... I am currently a Military wife... And let me tell you, We make Way less than minimum wage... We are actually at or below poverty level... I have never had much money in my life nor do I really care too... I just want and need enough money to keep my family going... Now when you say that we only see dollars from the republicans then you are 100% correct... But thats because Most of us military peeps have no money... Our Spouses are deployed for long periods of time and we still see little money from it... Now if you look at how much a civilian gets paid to do the jobs that our military men and women do, You will see a large difference... The democrats primarily care about the elderly, the civilians who should get off their lazy butts and stop using welfare, those who will put more money into their pockets, the illegal immagrants who get healthcare *while our American people can't even afford any form of healthcare* , And pretty much anything that doesn't involve military.... Sorry I always get off on those rants... Our pay after taxes *yes we pay taxes* per paycheck is only $792.00 we get that 2 times a month... I have a family of 5... I do not collect welfare because I find it to be a drag on our econmy... You do the math and let me know if you think that I'm wrong for wanting more money... And NO the military does not force any political views upon you...

Answer 4

No. The thing with the military is that it generally takes someone with a conservative mindset to subject themselves to a regimented lifestyle. So there are generally more conservatives in the military. Even you, you are a Democrat, but you have Conservative leanings. There are very few of what most people see as "Liberals" in the military. As a result, Republicans and conservatives tend to understand the military more and generally better. That is why the Republicans generally fund the military (procurement, training, maintainence funds, etc.) while the Democrats generally try to pay the service member (pay raises, benifits, etc.)


You talk to them like anyone else. They are not "brainwashed." There is no effort to brainwash anyone. If there was, you wouldn't be the way you are. They are people. You dont have to talk politics. I have several democrat friends in the Army. I have more Republican/Conservative friends, but we have no problem with the others.

Answer 5

I'd definatly agree with the guy above me that the military is much more appealing to men with a conservative mind set. I would consider myself as a "conservative" democrat, and I definatly feel like I'm in the minority as far as politicts are concerned. I've never felt like I've had veiws pressed upon me, but being in the minority, and everyone feeling so strongly against "liberals" its as if any opinion or point I have that would be labed as a democrate veiw, no matter how rellavant or correct I am, it doesn't matter, which is why I just tend to keep quite when people start talking politcs.
I can understand why military members would tend to lean republican, regaurdless of their opinions, they always give good cost of living raises, compared to Clintons 2% raises, and having a republican in the white house there is a much greater sense of job security. If a democrat wins the next election, and completly pulls out of the middle east like they promise, sure we'll have a much easier job, but who knows how many troops will be discharged? I'd be very surprised if everyone retains their job.

Answer 6

From your question I can tell you were not in the military during the Clinton years? Starting in 1993 Bill Clinton cut the military budget in half. I was serving in a M.I. unit at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. We didn't have money to buy pens or toner cartridges, or supplies of any kind. We couldn't even get parts for our vehicles. We had big trucks that we had to pull parts off of to put on other vehicles to run them. It was insane. Democrats for the most part don't like the military. That is why all the big wigs like John Murtha talk crap about how the military can't do the job in Iraq etc. etc. Its sickening. I was in the Army for 4 years, and I never felt like anyone was pushing a political agenda on me. I just remember what Clinton did to our military and it was despicable.

Answer 7

If you are thinking that we have "Political Officers", like they do in places like Vietnam, China, Russia, etc...

The answer is no; I am a registered Republican and there are as many registered Democrats in the military as there are Republicans, Independents, Constitutionalists and Green Party affiliates.

I do not let my political views influence my way of thinking and I vote with my consience and not under pressure of anyone. Being in one political party doesn't make you more patriotic or less patriotic than the guy next to you.

So you can talk to me with an open mind and I will listen with an open mind as well.

Answer 8

I never saw any push towards a pro republican views.